rajafacesbothways

Latest Garden Design

Since the Big Boys outgrew it, the top half of their cage now offers protection for the cherry tomatoes. The steel tube leading into the plant performs as an i.v. for  feeding and watering.
I think Marcel DuChamp would approve.
(the plants to the left are cherry peppers and zucchini)

What Would Jesus Pack?

A Louisville Kentucky minister has urged his parishioners and any visitors, to wear or carry guns to his church service to "celebrate our rights as Americans." Will they join together in their favorite hymns, "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition"?

I might not be so amazed if this was a very rural eastern KY church where snake handling occasionally is practiced but--Louisville?--one of the centers of civility in this state!

I still get asked here if I have found a church yet. Nope. Not until I get a bulletproof vest. This puts a whole new spin on being baptized by fire.
Gunfire, that is.

Got Taters and Beans

About a pound of beans were harvested last night. The bean plants are bookmarked by the barrels of potatoes; the plants keep growing--and-growing--and growing. Is living off the rooftop akin to living off the land?

Got Grass!

No garden is complete without grass. Voila! Here is the grassy knoll (kinda) on my rooftop. The sparrows enjoy stopping for a drink, although one tries to drink over its shoulder since the grass must tickle its tail feathers.

No plans to put in a putting green or to ever mow the grass. That would be sooooo suburban!

Glory Hallelujah!

 The morning glories are doing their job--providing shade and beauty.  And demanding gallons of water every day--doesn't take long for them to give me those withering looks.

The Great Frame Up

Have been going through infrared prints and deciding which ones to select and frame for the Sept./Oct. exhibition at the Arts and Cultural Center in town. I'll be needing 12 new mats and frames to go with the dozen I already have in stock; the fun is taking the photos, getting them out for the public to view is another challenge. Opportunities to exhibit don't come easy and it's a cost to the artist to present the work, while most galleries take 40% or more on sales.
 Its tough to be a closet artist when you live in a place without closets! So I can only put them out there and hope for the best.

I think I'm finished exploring infrared film. Photography has changed tremendously in the last years. Kodachrome, once my favorite is no longer being produced and infrared film is almost impossible to find. Even David Hockney, the  72-year-old artist, is using his IPhone and digital techniques to create new works of art.

This is an exciting time to explore all the new media. Or maybe it's time to take up knitting.

Sunday's Headlines

       

VIRGINS DEFLOWERED IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT
A storm whipped through the area, stripping the tops off of innocent petunias. A few escaped by hovering under some protective onions. The survivors appeared to be lonely.           

 FADING BEAUTY PROPOSITIONED BY OLDER MEN
Congress passed a law, Cash For Clunkers, making it tempting for the aging Norse Horse to succumb to their offer. A rattling muffler indicated its approval of the tentative enticements.            

 ALIENS ATTACK TOMATO STRONGHOLD
Two defenseless tomato plants were invaded by hundreds of swarming aphids. The enemy combatants were swiftly defeated by a lone man packing a spray bottle containing a mysterious organic concoction. Once rescued, the frightened plants refused to be contained in their cage.  (see photo on upper right hand corner of this page)

The Hearts and Lives of Men

The Hearts and Lives of Men (1988) by author Fay Weldon, begins in London of the '60's when anything goes in love and art and continues for 20 years, examining the lives of the initial characters, including "little Nell", a love child who reaches adulthood after surviving kidnapping, a plane crash, fire, an orphanage and hippie drug dealers.

Addressing the reader personally with ironic asides on the follies of love that Weldon observes "follows life pretty closely--which at times it may seem far fetched". The writing is delightful witty story telling, a sometimes sardonic page turner with a gripping ending. Her irreverent approach engages the reader. I felt as though together we were observing and amused by an array of characters who often never really get it as they grope their way through life.

This is a great summer read.

If It's Thursday It Must Be First Friday

First Friday gathered for coffee on my 'lil porch; a chance for Chicago photographer Paul Clark to meet this creative crew. One is preparing for an August photo exhibit and his book, published by Oklahoma Press, on the history of the western Mustangs should come out in about 6 weeks. Another is designing a custom house for a client, and another just signed a contract with Prentice-Hall to write an art history book. A very bright, creative gathering--our answer to the group that once met at the Round Table at the Algonquin. And almost as witty.

Paul thought I got lucky down here with the people I've met. I prefer to think of it as being selective about those I let into my life.

Chicago Visitor

A photographer cohort from Chicago, Paul Clark, has come here to take in some of the area and to hang out for a couple of days. Paul has been doing my darkroom printing for years and knows how to get the maximum quality out of my negatives. He is also an excellent photographer/artist. His wife, Laurie, was unable to get away for the trip.
Sigh. It must be the sign of my age that women now have no problem with their husbands coming to visit me alone.